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The Journals of Matthew Quinton #5
The Battle of All The Ages
Who do you turn to when there’s no one left to trust? Epic sea battles and treasonous betrayals…
In the heat of a gigantic battle against the Dutch, the English fleet is mysteriously divided. A large portion of their resources is sent to meet a French threat which never materialises. Thousands are slaughtered. Could there be a traitor in the Royal Navy?
As popular fury erupts, Captain Matthew Quinton is given the unenviable task of uncovering the enemy within. Heads must roll. Sent to find source of this false intelligence in pirate-infested Plymouth, Quinton is dismayed when all evidence seems to point to an old friend…
Fans of Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander will love the fifth instalment of the Matthew Quinton Journals.
‘Great naval fiction … Hornblower , Aubrey and Quinton – a pantheon of the best adventures at sea’ Conn Iggulden
The Matthew Quinton Journals1. Gentleman Captain
2. The Mountain of Gold
3. The Blast that Tears the Skies
4. The Lion of Midnight
5. The Battle of the Ages
6. The Rage of Fortune
7. Death's Bright Angel
8. The Devil Upon the Wave
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
33 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Davies
29 books56 followersAuthor of 'The Journals of Matthew Quinton', a series of naval historical fiction set in the Restoration period, and of non-fiction books including 'Pepys's Navy' and 'Blood of Kings'. Currently living in Bedfordshire, UK, but originally from Llanelli in West Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2018
J.D. Davies has really found his style with his Matthew Quinton series. The fourth part that I reviewed late last year was the first one that pulled me in, but I still pointed out that the stories seem to be staying on land far more than at sea. However, the fifth book in the series fixes all that!
For the first three novels, Matthew Quinton spent far too much time trying to puzzle out the secrets of his family and only got to sea on a few short sequences. The fourth novel gave us a little bit more of sea action and the fifth finally brings us an actual sea battle. A full half of the book is taken by an account of the epic Four Days Battle of 1666 between the English and the Dutch and then, after a short spell upon land, the novel finishes up with the following battle: The St James's Day Fight. Both accounts are filled with detail and where the author has made changes to historical facts (as far as they can ever be deciphered), they are explained in the Historical Notes at the end of the novel.
This was an excellent read to any fan of naval fiction and the praise on the cover - "Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton - a pantheon of the best adventures at sea" - is fully deserved. The action and plot move forward with great pacing and the writing is - as it has for the entire series. Davies' meticulous research really shows through and, as a reader, one is fully transported to his very different day and age. There are no ship's wheels or crow's nests here to reveal that the author has not truly studied the era and the ships that were in use in the 17th century.
Like the previous volume, I can fully recommend this series to any fan of Patrick O'Brian. The first three parts may not offer as much sea action or activities, but they do show the problematic era of gentlemen captains and what it meant to English seamanship. And, as I already gushed above, the fourth and fifth parts compensate for any neglects of the earlier ones.
For the first three novels, Matthew Quinton spent far too much time trying to puzzle out the secrets of his family and only got to sea on a few short sequences. The fourth novel gave us a little bit more of sea action and the fifth finally brings us an actual sea battle. A full half of the book is taken by an account of the epic Four Days Battle of 1666 between the English and the Dutch and then, after a short spell upon land, the novel finishes up with the following battle: The St James's Day Fight. Both accounts are filled with detail and where the author has made changes to historical facts (as far as they can ever be deciphered), they are explained in the Historical Notes at the end of the novel.
This was an excellent read to any fan of naval fiction and the praise on the cover - "Hornblower, Aubrey and Quinton - a pantheon of the best adventures at sea" - is fully deserved. The action and plot move forward with great pacing and the writing is - as it has for the entire series. Davies' meticulous research really shows through and, as a reader, one is fully transported to his very different day and age. There are no ship's wheels or crow's nests here to reveal that the author has not truly studied the era and the ships that were in use in the 17th century.
Like the previous volume, I can fully recommend this series to any fan of Patrick O'Brian. The first three parts may not offer as much sea action or activities, but they do show the problematic era of gentlemen captains and what it meant to English seamanship. And, as I already gushed above, the fourth and fifth parts compensate for any neglects of the earlier ones.
January 17, 2024
This has been a very interesting, different series so far, covering a very different era of naval war from the usual Napoleonic era. Set in the late 1600s, this book covers the biggest and most epic naval battle of all time with huge fleets battling it out just east of England.
The entire thing is set up to be amazing, but is from real life. The English, outnumber 10:1 or more, fight the Dutch for four days in a harrowing, heinous battle of continual warfare in which over 6000 English sailors die. It starts out with the English navy expecting the rest of their fleet to join them, but half of their ships have been diverted to deal with a reported French fleet headed to Ireland.
But was there a French fleet? And who gave the order? Why was the British fleet divided, and how can the British possibly win against such odds?
The entire thing is set up to be amazing, but is from real life. The English, outnumber 10:1 or more, fight the Dutch for four days in a harrowing, heinous battle of continual warfare in which over 6000 English sailors die. It starts out with the English navy expecting the rest of their fleet to join them, but half of their ships have been diverted to deal with a reported French fleet headed to Ireland.
But was there a French fleet? And who gave the order? Why was the British fleet divided, and how can the British possibly win against such odds?
June 9, 2018
Experience the Four Days Battle
This story continues the tale of Matthew Quinton as he commands a warship in close action against the Dutch in 1666.
A great introduction to the longest fleet battle with the most ships that occurred during the age of sail. A great read!
This story continues the tale of Matthew Quinton as he commands a warship in close action against the Dutch in 1666.
A great introduction to the longest fleet battle with the most ships that occurred during the age of sail. A great read!
February 1, 2020
A great addition to a great series.
The Matthew Quinton journals follow a period of history that few delve into, especially in the genre of historical fiction. Great characters, great storylines, battles on the sea and land. What's not to like.
The Matthew Quinton journals follow a period of history that few delve into, especially in the genre of historical fiction. Great characters, great storylines, battles on the sea and land. What's not to like.
March 8, 2017
Another Excellent Story
This book in the Quinton series is another example of good historical fiction. The continuing plot is based on historical events and laced with realistic observations, good dialogue, and effective descriptions.
This book in the Quinton series is another example of good historical fiction. The continuing plot is based on historical events and laced with realistic observations, good dialogue, and effective descriptions.
August 3, 2016
The fifth entry in the Mathew Quinton chronicle is up to Mr. Davies usual high standards of scholarship and historical detail. The 1660's is a period rarely visited by authors and readers interested in the "age of fighting sail" genre and the author is one of the best practitioners. Good action and detail involving the 4 day battle between the English and Dutch fleets and the follow up battle seven months latter. A side trip to Plymouth fills in the gap between these two battles and lets the author use Quinton to examine the greatest question of the day about the 4 day battle, which is (as any reader of Pepys' diary knows) why Prince Rupert's fleet was separated from Albemarle's fleet prior to the action?
July 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Coming into this well-written series at book 5 just gave me a taste for further reading. Set in the 1660s, J.D. Davies has created an impressive historically-accurate saga centered on the adventures of Mathew Quinton. The fighting sailing ships and their crews depicted here provide a glimpse into the true feeling of the battles and the men who fought them. Highly recommended.
Coming into this well-written series at book 5 just gave me a taste for further reading. Set in the 1660s, J.D. Davies has created an impressive historically-accurate saga centered on the adventures of Mathew Quinton. The fighting sailing ships and their crews depicted here provide a glimpse into the true feeling of the battles and the men who fought them. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews